This event has taken place
Congratulations to everyone who took part. We're waiting on information about the next edition of this event.
Did you race? Let the community know how you got on and leave a review.
Add a reviewWant to see all previous and future editions of this event, find them below.
Trail Run Picos de Europa | The ‘Anillo’
Cangas de Onís, Spain
Cangas de Onís, SpainWed 21st July 2021 - Sun 25th July 2021
Organiser's Description
The ‘Anillo’ covers an immense circular trail throughout the Picos de Europa National Park, and this trail run has everything and more: rocky crests, gorges, lush valleys, vast glacial lakes, and leafy forests. There is no doubt that you will be amazed by what you find on our trail running journey.
Over the course of five days, we’ll experience the very best of what the Picos de Europa has to offer, staying in high mountain refuges and covering rewarding daily distances, all the while by being surrounded by blissful lofty peaks.
Races
-
Deposit for One Person
Final Balance of £795 Due 12 Weeks Before Departure
£300.00
CLOSED
Book
-
Deposit for One Person
Final Balance of £795 Due 12 Weeks Before Departure
£300.00
CLOSED
What's Included
2 nights accommodation at the Hotel Lagos Nature in Cangas de Onis
2 nights accommodation at Vega de Ario and Vegabaño mountain refuges
Semi-supported trail running trip
Breakfast and dinner throughout the trip
All transfers
1 : 4 Guides to Runners Ratio
3 Days of Trail Running on empty trails
Max 12 runners
NOT INCLUDED:
International Flights
Lunches throughout (purchased locally)
Beverages and snacks
Personal equipment and bills
Travel Insurance (REQUIRED before trip departure – for cancellation, accidents, health, emergency evacuation, loss, theft or damage to baggage or personal effects)
Tips
Detailed itinerary
Day 1 - Arrival into Santander or Bilbao - Cangas de Onis
No trail running.
Welcome to the Picos de Europa!
You will likely arrive into Santander (SDR) or Bilbao (BIO) on the Ryan Air or Easyjet flight. Once you have collected your bags make your way through to the arrivals area (you won’t miss us!) and we’ll be waiting to pick you up.
We transfer you to the pretty mountain town of Cangas de Onis (the journey should take 1.5 hours) and onto our hotel for check-in.
With some time to relax and to get your bearings after the flight, we’ll all meet up with an adventure briefing over dinner to explain about what to expect from the next few days.
Overnight Hotel Lagos Nature, Double/Twin Room, incl breakfast
",
Day 2 - Covadonga Lakes - Vegabaño. Hut
Approx. 14 miles.
Gradient: + 1300m / - 1100m (5 hours Trail Running)
Departing our hotel after breakfast we transfer to Covadonga Lakes. We start this amazing journey by crossing the ‘vega de enol’ and head up towards the Vegarredonda shelter which is surrounded by amazing mountain scenery and gets us straight into the action.
The trail continues upwards until we reach the Collado Les Merines (2,100m) which is a blissful peak with jaw dropping views.
The terrain soon changes from lush grass to rocky limestone with plenty of rest stops planned along the way, particularly at the Prieta spring which is a perfect place to drink some cool mountain water.
Our trail traverses until we reach the Vega Huerta - a mountain shelter - and continues along the path southwards down the Canal del Perro to the Frade shelter. From here it’s an easy descent through beech forests where we pass some extraordinary beauty spots including the source of the Dobra River and a thousand-year old oak tree at Vegabaño.
After a well-earned rest, we’ll talk about the stage and the next day. Before tucking into a mountain dinner and good nights sleep in the mountains.
",
Day 3 - Vegabaño - Vega de Ario
Approx. 14 miles.
Gradient: + 1600m / - 600m (4 - 5 hours Trail Running)
After breakfast we leave the Vegabaño shelter behind us and enter a beech grove and virgin woodland which routes gently uphill.
The trail then begins to descend into the Valdeon valley, over bubbling brooks and the trail becomes wider as we enter the village of Caldevilla.
Having reached this point we follow the course of the Cares river to the village of Posada de Valdeón where we will spend some time relaxing and to buy lunch (not included).
After, our journey heads towards the village of Cain which is a beautiful 8km stretch along the Cares river. Arriving into the village we enter the Cares Gorge, crossing tunnels and bridges as we go.
Just before we reach the Bolin bridge, a sign indicates the start of the harsh Canal de Trea, a steep, long ravine that offers no respite until we reach the meadows of Vega de Ario higher up, where we will take a well-earned rest and finish the stage.
The impressive views of the central massif from here are your reward. We then check into our mountain refuge to relax and have dinner.
Overnight Vega de Ario Mountain Refuge, Shared Room incl breakfast and dinner.
",
Day 4 - Vega de Ario to Covadonga
Approx. 13 miles.
Gradient: - 1600m (4 hours Trail Running)
With the hard day of yesterday behind us we can look forward to a more relaxing trail ahead of us today.
From Vega de Ario we run to the Ercina Lake which makes for easy running as the trail descends.
Our first stop is as the Collado del Jito with magnificent views of the Central Massif as we head towards the Ercina and Enol Lakes. The lakes are the famous glacial lakes of the Picos de Europa and make a perfect spot for us to sit down for lunch and to relax.
After lunch, we follow the “La Senda Roberto Frassinelli” - which is named after Roberto Frassinelli, a German local who lived nearby the Picos de Europa in the 19th century. He was a great lover or the national park who frequented this route to access the high mountains of the western massif.
As we run into Covadonga it’s all smiles as we have successfully completed our circumnavigation of the Picos de Europa. The ‘Anillo’ or the Ring is finished!
From here we transfer back to Cangas de Onis for check-in with time to relax before a celebratory dinner to toast our journey.
Overnight Hotel Lagos Nature, Double/Twin Room, incl breakfast
",
Day 5 - Cangas de Onis - Santander/Bilbao - Home
No Trail Running.
It’s time to pack up and bid farewell to your new-found trail running friends and our local team.
Our group transfers back to Santander International Airport (SDR) or Bilbao (BIO) in time to connect with your onward flight back home.
Faqs
FLIGHTS
We specialise in arranging excellent trail running holidays, but do not book International flights. We have designed this journey to begin on a Wednesday (22nd July) and finish on a Sunday (26th July) to work around the direct London Stansted - Santander (SDR) flight which works to the best timings. It is also possible to fly to Bilbao (BIO) from Manchester and Edinburgh airports.
We will discuss with you about our trusted and recommended ways to book international flights through excellent ATOL protected partners who offer great value, ease of service and flight protection.
VISAS
British citizens do not need a visa to visit Spain.
GROUP MANAGEMENT
Being a group of max. 12 runners with a mixture of ages and running abilities we may decide to split into flexible groups, all of which will be supported by our running guides who will travel with us on the trip.
By splitting the group will allow us all to move more fluidly, allowing all team members to run at their own comfortable pace, without feeling pressured.
TRAIL RUNNING
Trail running on this circumnavigation of the Picos de Europa involves three long days of trail running amongst remarkable mountain scenery. One of the joys of the Picos de Europa is that fewer travellers outside of Spain generally visit which means we benefit from relatively empty trails.
Our route is challenging and involves distances of approx. 14 miles daily, inclusive of steep up hill (up to 1400m) and steep down hill sections (as much as -1000m). We can expect to be on our feet from anywhere between 4 - 6+ hours.
The terrain is ideal for trail running and we can expect a mixture of lush green grasses, beech and virgin forests to the rougher limestone rocks that characterize the central and western Massifs of the national park.
TEMPERATURES
In July we expect long, summer days with blue skies and lots of sun. Being above 1,000m should mean that daily temperatures are perfect for trail running, but it must be stressed that given our journey routes around the Picos de Europa we need to be prepared for all weather with the possibility of rain and foggy conditions. At night/early morning temperatures outside will dip, but these soon vanish as soon as the sun comes up.
Course Details
TRIP ADVENTURE GRADE: C (CHALLENGING)
Challenging graded trail runs feature longer trails which involves some long, steep ascents, as well as steep descents which are away from civilization. The trails we travel on can sometimes reach higher altitudes up to 3,000m and follows rough and more difficult terrain. Previous experience would be advantageous, but not essential.
Approximate details:
Total Distance: approx. 71.0 km
Total Running Days: 3 Days
Lowest Elevation: 221m
Highest Elevation: 2,134m
Elevation Gain: 4,017m
The daily distances and itinerary may change according to local weather conditions and the groups condition.
Highlights:
Trail running the ‘Anillo’ (The Ring) as we make a circumnavigation of the Picos de Europa
Run amongst stunning landscapes which offers immense views from the heart of the National Park
Stay in high mountain refuges which gives the journey more of an expeditionary experience
Accommodation
Los Lagos Nature, Cangas di Oni
In the charming town of Cangas de Oni the Los Lagos Nature is a pretty little boutique hotel located at the heart of a historic square.
The hotel is just metres away from all of the towns sights and is a perfect base for accessing the Picos de Europa.
The rooms are all beautiful, spacious and also makes for a relaxing stay either side of our trail running journey.
Single Supplement available.
",
Mountain Refuges
Located high in the mountains and above 1,400m we will spend two nights of the journey in cosy mountain refuges.
The refuges are maintained and operated by mountain wardens and our stay will be in bunk bed formation where blankets and sleeping bags are available.
Despite being high in the mountains the refuges offer warm showers and hot meals, as well as jaw dropping 360 degree mountain scenery straight from the front door.
Reviews
Done this event?
First-hand event reviews from people who have been there, done that and got the breathable T-shirt, really help everyone choose their next event.
Add a review